Bec Hardy Pertaringa Rifle and Hunt Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
- 93
- $45
- Drink by: 2024-2036
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Rather than this being a reject from the local fox and hounds club, the wine is named because the vineyard whence it hails, on the corner of Rifle Range and Hunt Roads, in McLaren Vale. The wine spent eight days on skins, before fifteen months in a mix of new and aged French oak hogsheads and puncheons. This is deep maroon in colour with aromas of tobacco leaves, dry herbs, dark berries, mushrooms, leather, chocolate, and a flick of well-integrated oak. The wine is well balanced, with fine acidity, decent grip, and good length. Further notes of mulberries and chocolate emerge on the palate. Will drink very well for the next ten to twelve years. As good as the previous release was, this is a step up.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
